Brussels is under mounting pressure to freeze €653 million in EU funds earmarked for Bulgaria, as European liberals raise alarms over what they describe as a dangerous erosion of democratic norms in the country.
At the heart of the controversy is Blagomir Kotsev, the liberal mayor of Varna, who was arrested in July on embezzlement charges that his party claims are politically motivated.
Kotsev, a member of the “We Continue the Change” party, has become a symbol of resistance against what reformists call a “captured state.” His arrest has sparked nationwide protests and drawn sharp criticism from European lawmakers.
The EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) links funding to reforms in democracy, digital policy, and environmental goals. Bulgaria has already received €1.37 billion, but the remaining €653 million is now in limbo as the Commission reviews whether the country still meets the necessary criteria.
From his jail cell, Kotsev has called on the EU to apply “more political pressure” to prevent Bulgaria’s slide toward authoritarianism. He claims he was warned to abandon his party or face consequences similar to those experienced by Turkish mayors ousted under President Erdoğan’s regime.
President Rumen Radev has condemned the judiciary’s selective targeting of opposition figures, while former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov described the situation as a “state of dictatorship.” The charges against Kotsev center on public catering contracts, with a manager alleging he demanded a 15% cut from school meal deals.
Kotsev denies the accusations, warning that his arrest sets a dangerous precedent: “If I can be jailed, any citizen can be.”
Varna, Bulgaria’s largest port and a strategic hub for NATO and EU security, is also a hotspot for Russian influence. Reformists argue that removing Kotsev benefits pro-Kremlin interests, weakening democratic oversight in a city of geopolitical importance. As the European Commission deliberates on Bulgaria’s funding request, Kotsev’s case has become a litmus test for the EU’s commitment to rule of law.
The outcome could determine whether Brussels enforces its democratic standards or allows authoritarian drift to continue unchecked within its own borders.